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- Mar 29, 2013
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Hi, I live in Appleton WI i am 15 and I carry a Smith and Wesson M&P MP4LS is it legal for me to be carrying?
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Appleton WI Knife Law
- Thread starter parkerp1000
- Start date
No matter what any manufacturer decides to call it, almost any cop encountering a MP4LS is going to think it's a "Switchblade" because it appears to have a button-operated automatically deploying blade. Cops don't care if the advert calls it Spring Assisted and you would be very hard pressed to convince most cops otherwise. If caught carrying one, your best case scenario would be a night in jail and an acquittal if you hire the most expensive lawyer in the state.
Of course, you do have to get caught first. Cops would be able to arrest you for it in unless you do something criminally dumb enough to get their attention.
Of course, you do have to get caught first. Cops would be able to arrest you for it in unless you do something criminally dumb enough to get their attention.
In my non-expert opinion, and based on a description of that knife I read and the law quoted by Glistam, that knife really does sound like it technically qualifies as a "switchblade", and is therefore illegal for you to carry.
As someone who has been through the criminal justice system, I would strongly suggest that you carry a different knife and enjoy the S&W at home. While it's true that you may never get caught carrying that knife, it's not worth taking the gamble. You never know how or when the cops will have the opportunity to "catch" you. I met a lot of guys behind bars who never thought they would get caught doing what they were doing. And once you get caught, there are no "do overs". If you get caught and if you are lucky, a cop may simply confiscate the knife and let you go. If you are not lucky, well, imagine having to call your parents from jail, imagine them having to miss work to attend your various court hearings, and imagine how happy they would be to have to pay hundreds, or thousands of dollars in fines and court costs. And then of course there is the unpleasantness of probation and community service and having a criminal record (weapons offense), etc, etc.
I advise you to take the law and the criminal justice system very seriously (I'm not saying you don't already. I'm just giving that advice). The criminal justice system is no joke. Don't expect mercy or understanding from cops or prosecuters or judges just because you're a "kid" or because you're not a "criminal". Many people undersestimate the criminal justice system because they have no experience with it. But if you ever get arrested and charged with a crime, you'll realize, like many often learn too late, that it is very real, and very serious, and that it can really screw-up your life.
Like I said, don't take the gamble. Carry a different knife.
As someone who has been through the criminal justice system, I would strongly suggest that you carry a different knife and enjoy the S&W at home. While it's true that you may never get caught carrying that knife, it's not worth taking the gamble. You never know how or when the cops will have the opportunity to "catch" you. I met a lot of guys behind bars who never thought they would get caught doing what they were doing. And once you get caught, there are no "do overs". If you get caught and if you are lucky, a cop may simply confiscate the knife and let you go. If you are not lucky, well, imagine having to call your parents from jail, imagine them having to miss work to attend your various court hearings, and imagine how happy they would be to have to pay hundreds, or thousands of dollars in fines and court costs. And then of course there is the unpleasantness of probation and community service and having a criminal record (weapons offense), etc, etc.
I advise you to take the law and the criminal justice system very seriously (I'm not saying you don't already. I'm just giving that advice). The criminal justice system is no joke. Don't expect mercy or understanding from cops or prosecuters or judges just because you're a "kid" or because you're not a "criminal". Many people undersestimate the criminal justice system because they have no experience with it. But if you ever get arrested and charged with a crime, you'll realize, like many often learn too late, that it is very real, and very serious, and that it can really screw-up your life.
Like I said, don't take the gamble. Carry a different knife.